Avoid H2O Logistics: Misleading Pay, Hidden Costs, and Unfair Deductions
I strongly advise anyone considering H2O Reading to think twice. They advertise a daily rate of £190–£220, but the reality is a flat £176. The fuel policy is equally misleading; they pay only 20p per mile from the first delivery to the last, ignoring the travel to and from the station. You end up spending £15–£20 on fuel while receiving only £10 back.
The pay structure is exploitative. For a 190-stop route, Amazon pays H2O roughly £285, yet the driver only sees £170. They effectively pocket £115 of your hard work every day. Furthermore, they charge £234/week for van hire and deduct £100/week for six weeks as a "van deposit." They hold this £600 for 28 days after you leave—interest-free—leaving you out of pocket.
If you are slightly behind on a route and they send "help," your pay is slashed from £176 to £90. After van costs, you are left with about £47 for 9 hours of work—roughly £5.22 per hour, which is well below the minimum wage.
My Advice: Unless you get a written guarantee of 5 full shifts per week with no "half loads," do not join. You will end up losing money rather than making it.